Leading Polished Casual Fondue Restaurant Aims to Develop First Arkansas Restaurant
The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., the world’s premier fondue restaurant and a leading polished casual dining franchise, announced today that it is actively seeking franchisees to bring its interactive dining experience to Little Rock, Ark., naming the city as a target for future franchise development.
The brand plans to enter Arkansas for the first time with the development of a new location in Little Rock. Little Rock is one of a number of select markets throughout the U.S. where the company is looking to recruit qualified new franchisees. In addition to Little Rock, the brand also has an interest in opening The Melting Pot in Northwest Arkansas. Additional markets targeted for expansion include Anchorage, Alaska; Hartford, Conn.; Charleston, S.C.; New York City and Houston, as well as the Greater Toronto Area, Calgary and Vancouver, Canada.
“The Melting Pot concept is backed by 30 years of experience in franchising and nearly 40 years of brand recognition, making this an ideal business opportunity for entrepreneurs,” said Dan Stone, vice president of franchise development for Front Burner Brands. “We look forward to bringing our one-of-a-kind, polished casual dining experience to the Little Rock market for the very first time. We’re confident that The Melting Pot will be a welcomed addition to the community.”
The Melting Pot operates more than 130 restaurants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico and has more than 20 locations in development internationally. The concept is known for offering an assortment of flavorful fondue cooking styles and a variety of unique entrees served with signature dipping sauces. The menu features a variety of a la carte selections, highlighting customizable options that invite guests to enjoy one, two, three or more courses as they select any combination of individually-priced cheese fondues, salads, entrees and chocolate fondues.
The Melting Pot made a strong showing in the 2014 Nation’s Restaurant News Consumer Picks Survey ranking sixth out of 38 concepts in the casual dining segment. In the varied menu/specialty sub-segment of the casual dining industry, The Melting Pot ranked first in the categories of cleanliness, service and likelihood to recommend. Overall in the casual dining segment, the brand ranked second in cleanliness, second in service and fourth in likelihood to recommend.
The Melting Pot is seeking entrepreneurs with business backgrounds and/or preferably restaurant experience who are passionate about the brand and want to be their own bosses. Franchisee candidates should have a credit score of 650 or higher, a minimum net worth of $750,000 and liquid assets of at least $325,000 per unit. Depending on the real estate site selected, franchisees can expect the total investment for one restaurant to be approximately $977,000 to $1,436,000. Single-unit and multi-unit franchise opportunities are available with an initial franchise fee of $45,000 per unit.
To learn more about ownership opportunities with The Melting Pot, contact Shak Turner, director of franchise development for The Melting Pot, at 800-783-0867 ext. 105 or sturner@meltingpot.com or visit www.meltingpotfranchise.com.
To learn about fondue history and facts, check out The Melting Pot’s fondue infographic.
With more than 130 restaurants in North America, existing locations across 35 states, Canada and Mexico and more than 20 locations currently in development, The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. is the premier fondue restaurant franchise and a leading polished casual dining franchise. Founded in 1975, The Melting Pot has offered a memorable dining experience for nearly 40 years. Guests enjoy a choice of fondue cooking styles and a variety of unique entrées combined with dipping sauces. The menu also includes cheese fondues, salads, fine wines and chocolate fondue desserts. The Melting Pot is an affiliate of Front Burner Brands, a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Fla. For more information, visit http://www.meltingpot.com.
Front Burner Brands is a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Fla. It is affiliated with the corporate owners of and its management services extended to The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., founded in 1975 with more than 130 restaurants in North America and more than 20 locations currently in development and GrillSmith with five locations in the Tampa Bay area. For more information, visit http://www.frontburnerbrands.com.
